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Bexley
 

Bexley, St Mary the Virgin


Photo: Dickon Love, 12th Jun 2004

  • 8 bells hung for full circle ringing
  • Tenor: 7-0-18 in A.
  • Grid Ref: TR312525
  • Rung from: Upstairs Ringing Room
  • Frame: 1938 Mears & Stainbank
  • Denomination: Church of England
    Diocese (Anglican): Rochester
  • Kent County Association of Change Ringers District: Lewisham
  • Building Listed Grade: II* Click for Heritage details.
  • Peals rung at the tower

Details of the Bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)

(As received in 1937)

(As dispatched 1937 after retuning)
Diameter Note Date Founder Canons Retuned
® Treble 3-0-73-0-823" A 1938 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 2 3-1-173-1-2123⅞" G♯ 1938 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel Flat Never
® 3 3-1-183-3-263-1-1325¾" F♯ 1763 Thomas Janaway, Chelsea 1938 Mears & Stainbank
® 4 4-0-114-0-926½" E 2003 Whitechapel Bell Foundry Flat 1938 Mears & Stainbank
® 5 4-0-64-1-14-0-728¼" D 1763 Thomas Janaway, Chelsea Removed 1938 Mears & Stainbank
® 6 4-1-114-2-214-2-129¼" C♯ 1763 Thomas Janaway, Chelsea 1938 Mears & Stainbank
® 7 5-1-115-2-255-1-2332" B 1763 Thomas Janaway, Chelsea Removed 1938 Mears & Stainbank
® Tenor 7-0-188-0-37-2-636" A 1763 Thomas Janaway, Chelsea Removed 1938 Mears & Stainbank

®  - Hung for full circle ringing

Bellframes

Frame Bells Year Maker Material Truss(es) Local
Layout
1 All bells 1938 Mears & Stainbank, Whitechapel

Inscriptions

Earlier bells

Bell Weight
(most recent)

(As received in 1937)
DiameterDateFounderRetunedFate
2nd o(of 6)1763Thomas JanawayNeverRecast 1827
4th of 84-0-94-1-1727"1827Thomas Mears II1938 Mears & StainbankRecast 2003

History

1552 Record of 3 bells in the tower. [1]
1763 The ring of 5 were recast into a ring of 6 plus a Sanctus Bell (which disappeared over 100 years ago).
1827 Thomas Mears recast 2nd.
1938 Two trebles added and bells retuned and rehung in a new frame.
1999 Clappers refurbished and new bearings and pulley boxes were fitted.
2003 The 4th (of 8) was recast by Whitechapel following their recommendation a few years before that this was a particularly weak bell in the ring. The canons were removed from the bells and they were all rehung.
[1] Item iij bells suted in the steple and one lytle bell and one hand bell. (Edwardian Inventory, 1552)

Gallery


The old 4th prior to recasting at Whitechapel in 2003.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

The empty frame.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

Tenor minus its headstock
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

Treble on the ground.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

3rd, 2nd, 7th, 5th, 6th and tenor on the floor of the church.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

5th, 7th and tenor on the floor of the church.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

The tenor coming off the lorry, standing on the floor of the church with its new headstock on and being hoisted up the tower.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

Hoisting off the truck.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

On the floor of the church.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

The treble.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

The treble.
Photo: Brian Butcher, 2003

The tenor in 2013
Photo: Alex Britton.


Love's Guide to the Church Bells of Kent Page updated: 1 April 2016